Double impatiens plant named ‘Balolesal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Balolesal’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and light red-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned above the foliage.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balolesal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Balolesal’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Elburn, Ill. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new compact Double Impatiens cultivars with fully doubleflowers, freely branching growth habit, and attractive flower andfoliage coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1999, of a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selectionidentified as 3039C-1, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, witha proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as 3111-1-9, notpatented, as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivar Balolesal wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inElburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atElburn, Ill. since October, 1999, has shown that the unique features ofthis new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Balolesal’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Balolesal’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching growth habit.

3. Dark green-colored leaves.

4. Freely flowering habit.

5. Light red-colored flowers that are fully double and positioned abovethe foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in flower color.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivarSalmon Sunrise, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,691. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in West Chicago, Ill. plants of thenew Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Salmon Sunrise in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens had longer lateral branches with longerinternodes than plants of the cultivar Salmon Sunrise.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger and darker green-coloredleaves than plants of the cultivar Salmon Sunrise.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely flowering than plants ofthe cultivar Salmon Sunrise.

4. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers with more petals perflower than plants of the cultivar Salmon Sunrise.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Impatiens was more orange thanflower color of plants of the cultivar Salmon Sunrise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newImpatiens.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of multiple floweringplants of ‘Balolesal’ in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Balolesal has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in West Chicago, Ill. under commercial practice in apolycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20to 24°C., night temperatures ranging from 10 to 17° C. and light levelsranging from 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles. Rooted young plants wereplanted in containers and had been growing for about five to six weekswhen the photographs and the description were taken.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanicl classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balolesal.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as3039C-1, not patented.

Male parent.—Propietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as3111-1-9, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 21 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Fibrous and fine.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and moundedplant habit. Appropriate for 10-cm and larger containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching growth habitwith about three basal branches and lateral branches potentially formingat every node; dense and bushy growth. Pinching, that is, removal of theterminal apices, is not required, but will enhance branching.

Plant height.—About 11.5 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 25 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 13.4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internodelength: About 3.2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146C; randomdark red purple, 59A, spots and streaks at nodes.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length: About 4.6cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.Margin: Serrate to crenate with ciliation. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 139A. Young and fullyexpanded foliage, lower surface: 138B. Venation, upper and lowersurfaces: 144B. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double flowers. Flowerbuds open similar to a rose in fullness; flowers rounded in shape.Flowers arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering, usually about 16flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above thefoliage and typically face upright or outward. Flowers last about fiveto seven days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not persistent.Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.3 cm. Depth: About 2.3 cm.

Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter:About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 48C.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 37 per flower; imbricate. Length,largest petals: About 2 cm. Width, largest petals: About 1.8 cm. Shape:Obovate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Truncate to attenuate. Margin: Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety, smooth. Color: When openingand fully opened, upper surface: 39A; becoming closer to 52A withsubsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:48C.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one modified intoan elongated spur. Calyx length: About 1 cm. Calyx diameter: About 1 cm.Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144C. Spurlength: About 2.9 cm. Spur color: 145A overlain with 59A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm. Angle: Acute.Strength: Strong. Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.—None observed.

Seed/fruit.—None observed.

Disease-pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plantnamed ‘Balolesal’, as illustrated and described.